The 10 Most Overrated Cars on the Market Today

There are a lot of great cars on the market today, but there are also a lot of cars that are simply overrated. While some truly impressive cars fly under the radar, others are oversold, overhyped, and marketed to death by the companies that make them. This type of hype inevitably leads to certain models failing to live up to their promise and letting down people who take the bait and buy them anyway. And truth be told, some of the most well-known cars, and biggest brands, are the most overrated in the automotive world. Here’s a list of the 10 most overrated cars on the market today.

10. Toyota Supra MKIV

The Supra has been a staple of Toyota’s vehicle line-up for years now. And it has some things worthy of a recommendation – notably its powerful engine. And many automotive critics have praised the Supra over the years for its reliability. But the car really isn’t perfect. The Supra suffers from a problems with the fans used to cool the engine, as well as the suspension and hydraulics. And while a Supra was featured in the original Fast and Furious movie, it doesn’t mean that this car can street race with just any vehicle. While it is true that the Supra has potential to be a beast on the street (after much modification), it doesn’t change the fact that most of them are used for hauling groceries home from Costco than street racing. Bottom line: This car is overhyped.

9. Porsche 911

Say it ain’t so! We know, the Porsche 911 is a legendary car by many standards. In 1963, Ferdinand Porsche decided that there needed to be a larger, more comfortable version of the 356 car he had developed, and created what is now known as the 911. This led to a model that has spanned generations, and continues to thrive today. But as good as the 911 is, the vehicle has some major flaws. Chief among them is that the more hardcore versions, such as the GT3 and the GT3 RS, have had some serious engine issues. Furthermore, in 2005, Porsche introduced the Cayman, a design that slotted in between the 911 and the Boxster. The Cayman was mid-engine and a blast to drive. With the introduction of the 2015 model Cayman, Porsche deliberately toned it down so as to not overshadow the 911. But the presence and performance of the Cayman alone shows that the iconic 911 is overrated.

8. Nissan GT-R

The GT-R is the most polarizing of the Nissan models. When first launched in 2007, the GT-R was like nothing else on the road. Its 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine pushed 480 horsepower, coupled with a superfast dual-clutch gearbox and all-wheel drive. Not bad, right? And all for less than the cost of the aforementioned Porsche 911. Few people would have dared call the Nissan GT-R overrated when it launched. But a decade later and the GT-R has remained largely unchanged. And yet, on today’s market, the car costs 50 percent more than it did originally.
The Nissan GT-R is also regularly criticized for being too heavy and not nearly as nimble as its competitors, which have caught up in recent years.

7. BMW E30 M3

To say the BMW E30 M3 is overrated is an understatement. This car’s nickname, after all, is “Chariot of the Gods.” Hard to live up to that kind of hype, right? Marketed as a contender for the “perfect car” mantle, the E30 M3 has a lightweight inline-four engine that sends power to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. And if that weren’t enough, the car has amazing torque and speed. But hype aside, the E30 M3 produces less than 250 horsepower in its most powerful form, which isn’t a lot by today’s standards. Some people still praise the E30 M3 for its performance figures and statistics. But in the grand scheme of things, most hot hatchback cars nowadays would beat it easily in a race. It may be time to rethink just how great the BMW E30 M3 really is.

6. Ferrari LaFerrari

While most people would kill to get their hands on any Ferrari, not all of these signature Italian race cars are great. Case in point is the Ferrari LaFerrari, probably the most overhyped among the famous luxury line. After all, the Porsche 918 Spyder has a sophisticated gas-electric hybrid system. The Mclaren P1 has DRS and race mode. What does the LaFerrari have by comparison? Not much, as it turns out. Yes, the LaFerrari has a massive 6.3-liter engine capable of churning out 789 horsepower. But that is not that unique in the world of sporty race cars. In fact, critics feel that the LaFerrari has been largely left behind in recent years by competing models. Plus, despite all its technological advances, the LaFerrari cannot go into full electric mode.

5. Bugatti Veyron

Another overhyped and overrated sports car is the Bugatti Veyron. The original Veyron boasted an eight-liter W-16 engine that had four turbos and produced just under 1000 horsepower. Special edition versions of the Veyron had a power hike to around 1200 horsepower, which is impressive. Yet this Bugatti is something of a one trick pony. Really, the car’s only claim to fame is its speed. It really doesn’t have much else to offer – especially because of its heavy weight and large size. The handling of the Veyron has been described as “atrocious,” and the overall performance is viewed as lacking in many respects. If all you want is a fast car to drive straight, than this is the one for you. If you require anything else, keep looking.

4. Subaru BRZ

Subaru has made some truly impressive cars over the years. But the one that is most overrated has to be the BRZ. Marketed as a return to semi-cheap sports car fun, the BRZ places 197 horsepower to the rear wheels of a relatively lightweight chassis in hopes that it will spur some excitement among drivers. But in standard form, the engine and rear wheels simply aren’t powerful enough to justify the hype. Most people agree that more power is needed. This is why many street modified versions of the BRZ have boosted engines. If you’ve ever driven a BRZ, then you’ll know that after you get used to the torque and acceleration, there’s nothing left but boredom.

3. Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius has always been a bit of an automotive rock star. The Prius first came onto the scene in 1997 when Toyota brought it out as the first mass produced gas-electric hybrid car. The Prius quickly established itself as the environmentally conscious buyer’s preferred mode of transport. And the Prius was a sales success right out of the gate. People who were concerned with the state of the environment snapped them up, thinking that the battery power was clean and green, thus easing their conscience about being environmentally friendly. However, this isn’t exactly true. As a hybrid, the Prius still has a fossil fuel-powered engine, plus a battery that contains nickel, an element that is bad for Mother Earth. Extracting nickel and turning it into a battery is a process that is very bad for the environment. So while the Prius has always used less gas than conventional cars, it’s also not the cure-all environmental vehicle that it has been made out to be.

2. Volkswagen Beetle (New)

Few (if any) cars in history have been as heavily marketed as the new Volkswagen Beetle. Sure, revamping this car from the 1960s was a kind of fun nostalgic idea. And the updated version looks modern enough, while still paying homage to the version of the car made popular in the Disney film The Love Bug. But besides being a funky version of the original, what did the new Beetle really have to offer? Heralded as a practical revolution and a true people’s car in some quarters, the new Beetle just ended up being a ho-hum vehicle. Really, there is nothing special to recommend this car other than its nostalgic appeal. As a car and driving experience, this vehicle is run of the mill at best. But hey, it’s cute.

1. Chevy Volt

Like the previously discussed Toyota Prius, the Chevy Volt is a car that is massively overrated. So much so, that some critics have labeled the Chevy Volt as “General Motor’s Personal Jesus.” Another gas-electric hybrid car, albeit with an extended driving range, the Volt is no more impressive than any other hybrid vehicle on the road today – although it is more expensive. While the Volt does have an advanced drivetrain, it can’t compensate for its lack of power or torque. Plus, it’s “extended range” isn’t really that far and the car’s appearance is a little on the boring side. Prior to its release, the marketers at GM overhyped the Volt so much that it became impossible for the car to live up to expectations. People thought the Volt would look like a Camaro and get 230 miles per gallon. Sadly, no.